Most experts recommend replacing pillows every 1 to 2 years.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend letting a toddler under the age of 2 years use a pillow. When your toddler transitions out of their crib to a bed they can then safely use pillows and other bedding.
Your baby should sleep without a pillow until they are at least 2 years old. Even then, the pillow they use should be small and firm. 2 There is no rush to introduce a pillow, either. Consider waiting until you move your child to a toddler bed or even longer.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests keeping all types of soft bedding—that is, blankets, pillows, bumper pads, and stuffed animals—out of the crib until at least 12 months of age. You should use your baby's gestational age, not their birth age, as a determinant.
Depending on the material quality and type used to fill the pillow, it could need replacing any time between 1 to 10 years, or more. Just like your mattress, it's important to replace your pillows when they have reached the end of their lives.
Pillows usually last between 18 months – three years, with poor quality pillows often having an even shorter lifespan.
Many parents and child care providers wonder when children should stop taking the blanket or pacifier to child care. There's no hard and fast rule. Some children are ready to give up their security objects by age 2 or 3. Others need the connection for a longer time.
When is it Safe to Give Your Toddler a Pillow and Blanket? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is safe to give your child a pillow and/or blanket when they are two years old.
The good news: Blankets, pillows and stuffed animals no longer pose the risk that they did when your child was a baby. Now, it's fine for your toddler to sleep with a thin blanket and maybe a small pillow — but make sure the pillow isn't big enough for him to use as a makeshift step stool to climb out of his crib.
While toddler pillows are generally considered safe for kids 2 and up, they're certainly not necessary. In fact, if a child is sleeping fine without a pillow, you may want to hold off.
Lots of toddlers will sleep quite well on the same firm and flat surface that worked for them as an infant, and they don't need a pillow. Two and three year old children tend to move around a lot in their sleep, shifting position from the head to the foot, or to the sides of the mattress throughout the night.
Their little bodies do not need the neck support like we do, and can even put strain on their neck if you give them the wrong pillow (we'll get into that more soon). So if your toddler is quite happily sleeping through the night comfortably, it isn't necessary to introduce one just yet.
A 13" x 18" low-loft pillow is the recommended size for toddlers 2 - 4 years. Although that may look small from an adult's point of view, or on a bed, remember the important factor is the comfort and support of your precious child; not the decor.
Toddlers (2-3 years of age)
Try not to over-bundle your baby in clothes if you think they might get cold at night — overheating is another risk factor for SIDS. Make sure the room is at a comfortably cool temperature, so the little one could sleep soundly. You can introduce a blanket to a baby when they are about two years old.
Feldman-Winter recommends that the safest time to introduce a pillow into your toddler's sleep routine is when they transition out of their crib, which she says could happen any time after they turn one.
So, I recommend only using a blanket in the crib after the first birthday and waiting to use a pillow until your child transitions from the crib to a bed...which may not be until they reach their third birthday…or even later. (Looking for a super-safe crib and mattress?
You know how sometimes you just want to hide under a blanket? Turns out there's a scientific reason for that. Kids do it because blankets and small spaces help them feel safer. But the idea of a blanket as a source of safety and comfort appears to translate to adulthood as well.
One study found that kids with strong bonds to transitional objects have stronger attachment to a parent and are happier than those without. But this effect starts to reverse as children get older. The same study showed that teens who still hold a strong attachment to a transitional object have poorer mental health.
Children become emotionally attached to cuddly toys, blankets and even smelly old scraps of material because they intuitively believe they possess a unique essence or life force, psychologists said yesterday.
Better hygiene – Pillows are a breeding ground for dust and bacteria that builds up over time, which is why it's important to know how to wash pillows properly. However, since pillows can be difficult to wash without damaging their quality, it's best to replace them after a couple of years.
Pillows start to turn yellow due to a variety of factors, most of which involve the accumulation of moisture. Sweat, drool, wet hair, and even skincare products can contribute to yellow stains on a pillow. And these stains are more than just unsightly.
Wondering why pillows turn yellow in the first place? That dingy yellow hue that bed pillows tend to develop over time is caused by the moisture they absorb while you sleep, including sweat, saliva, natural oils from your hair and skin, and even skin and hair product residues.